First Regular Session

Sixty-second General Assembly

LLS NO. R99­0924.01 Julie Hoerner

STATE OF COLORADO

BY REPRESENTATIVES Alexander, Hoppe, Johnson, Miller, Spradley, Taylor, Webster, Young;

also SENATOR Dennis.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 99-1043

CONCERNING THE LABELING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO INCLUDE THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN ON THE PACKAGE.

WHEREAS, It is essential that consumers have access to accurate facts to make informed choices about the food they purchase; and

WHEREAS, Current federal legislation requires country­of­origin labeling on frozen produce, but not on meat, poultry, or fresh produce, which creates a confusing double standard for consumers; and

WHEREAS, The current United States Department of Agriculture policy of placing a grading label on imported meats misleads consumers who believe the label means that the product was produced in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Many of the trading partners for the United States require country­of­origin labels on food products produced in the United States; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that 95% of the 625 million pounds of meat imported into the United States annually is imported for the purpose of additional processing and is therefore exempt from import labeling provisions of the federal "Pure Food and Drug Act"; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty­second General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

(1)  That the General Assembly requests that the United States Congress pass legislation requiring labels that disclose the country of origin on meats, poultry, and fresh produce; and

(2)  That the General Assembly requests that the United States Congress pass legislation prohibiting meat and cattle raised or produced outside of the United States and destined for immediate slaughter from carrying the United States Department of Agriculture quality grade label.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, each member of the Congressional delegation from Colorado, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Federal Trade Commission.